Vadeni strikes for France in Coral-Eclipse thriller at Sandown
Vadeni came out on top in a thrilling Coral-Eclipse at Sandown as the French three-year-old held off the late charge of Mishriff by a head.
Jean-Claude Rouget supplemented the Aga Khan-owned horse at a cost of £50,000 on Monday and that decision was vindicated as he showed his class in a top-notch renewal.
Christophe Soumillon rode a patient race on the son of Churchill but he hit the front inside the final quarter mile and had enough in reserve to fight off the flying Mishriff at the line, the winner's jockey already celebrating flashing past the post.
Native Trail was a close-up third after a frantic finish with Lord North also not beaten far in fourth. The pacesetting Alenquer and Bay Bridge wilted late on and played no part in the closing stages as the closers held sway in a classic.
Watch Race Replay
Unlimited race replays of all UK & Irish racing
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
'Perfect' run for Vadeni
Soumillon said: “I waited in the last position but the pace was just fine. We didn’t go really fast, but for my horse everything was perfect.
“He was really relaxed. He changed legs perfectly everywhere I wanted and when I came out of the turn, the pace picked up and for like 50 or 100 yards he was a bit off the bridle, so I had to give him a chance.
“When he just went up that small uphill at the two-furlong maker, he just took me on the bridle and changed legs. That was at the point where I was thinking may I wait a bit more and I saw Mishriff on my inside completely stopped and I said ‘I am not going to wait’. He is going to go through the horse to let my horse go.
“I just let him go. That is why I came maybe 50 or 100 yards too early to hit the front, but everything was fine. Unfortunately maybe 100 or 80 yards from the line, he stumbled and he lost balance for a few strides, and I had a neck in front of William (Buick on Native Trail) and I felt the horse come too on the outside, so I was like, ‘please, don’t give up, keep going’.
“Even if it is tough track, he gives you a gear like champions can give you".
Irish Champion the target
“For me, he is a pure mile-and-a-quarter horse. In the beginning of the race he doesn’t show too much speed, but the way he accelerates and you look at him physically, he really looks like that (a mile and quarter).
“With horses, you never know. We will see how he goes next – probably for the Irish Champion Stakes – and from there we will see. He is a really special horse.”
Rouget said: “He was very relaxed in the first part of the race. I was a little bit anxious at the beginning of the straight as he looked not very well (placed), but after a change of foot he came easily.
“Christophe said he had a bad step about 80 metres from the post, so that cut his action. I thought at that moment he could be second, but with his courage he became the winner. It was very important for him to win this race for his stallion career at home.
“If I decide to supplement a horse like that, it is my basic instinct so I was confident. I have 43 years of training in my legs so I know it is always difficult to win a maiden and to win the Eclipse, for me it was a real challenge – winning the Irish Champion with Almanzor, we were the same.
“I hope this one will win the other race (Irish Champion).”
12-day ban for Soumillon
There was a sting in the tail for Soumillon though, who, while celebrating on crossing the line, allowed Vadeni to drift to his right, badly hampering Native Trail who in turn forced James Doyle to snatch up on Lord North.
Soumillon was given 12 days (July 16-27 inclusive) for careless riding.
Timeform View: David Cleary
A fascinating renewal of the Coral-Eclipse, the first major clash between the generations, didn't disappoint, producing a terrific horse race, though with four of the six runners covered by under a length at the line, the winner Vadeni's performance doesn't rate quite on a par with the best of recent years.
As anticipated the race was tactical, and barely a length covered the whole field approaching the final furlong, the group tight on the rail as well, which meant space was at a premium. Soumillon wisely brought Vadeni down the outside and was clear of any traffic problems. He could well have even more to offer in a more truly-run race.
Mishriff, looking fitter than he had in this twelve months ago, was the unlucky horse in the race, caught in traffic when starting to find full stride and left with a couple of lengths to find 200 yards out, picking up so well that he snatched second near the line. Native Trail ran creditably and showed himself effective at the trip, though he became somewhat unbalanced and might have done even better without that. Lord North showed just what he can do with an even break from the stalls.
Disappointment of the race was Bay Bridge. A handier ride to counteract the problems he faced at Ascot saw him race a bit keener than ideal and he was already in trouble when short of room and backing out of things in the final furlong.
Gosden delighted in defeat with Eclipse second Mishriff
John Gosden was “over the moon” with Mishriff’s close-up second.
Having his first outing since disappointing in defence of his Saudi Cup crown, the five-year-old finished with a rare rattle to get within a neck of the French Derby winner Vadeni.
Short of room with a furlong to run, David Egan shifted Mishriff to the outside and narrowly failed to reel in the three-year-old, who was in receipt of 10lb. Native Trail, the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, was a further head back in third.
“Great run, delighted with him. Just missed the break. We had wanted to follow Bay Bridge, but we just missed it so we wound up down on the rail, but he has run a fabulous race,” said Gosden, who trains in partnership with his son Thady.
“I am thrilled with the way he finished. David did everything right, just having missed the break and it was a super run. You have three-year-olds getting a lot of weight – never forget the weight they get – it is very handy when you have a three-year-old. And he has split the two three-year-olds, so I am absolutely over the moon with him.
“I think he is fit enough. He is not blowing much, but he has run a superb race against two star three-year-olds.
“Saudi did not go well. He got a whole load of sand down his throat.”
Stablemate Lord North also returned to form, beaten just a length in fourth.
He added: “I thought Lord North, squeezed on the inside, ran a blinder of a race.”
Native Trail was on the other side of Vadeni and his trainer Charlie Appleby offered up no excuses in defeat.
He said: “We have got no excuses. They have gone steady and not gone a mad gallop. William said he felt he was in the right position and said the horse was comfortable in the race and comfortable over the trip – he saw it out.
“But take nothing away from the winner or the eventual second. It was that strong an event that it was always going to be a tight finish. I don’t think we were ever going to see a horse win by a couple of lengths.
“I posed the question of whether he should come back to a mile. Will said he was comfortable at that and there is no reason why we wouldn’t stay at a mile and quarter. It might just give him a few more options, anyway.
“He saw it out well and is a very straightforward ride in a race. We will consider the Juddmonte International (at York). Maybe a flatter, slicker track might suit him more, but I’m not making any excuses. He ran a solid race and more importantly, he has opened up options.
“Hopefully it makes life a little bit simpler with (stablemate) Coroebus. We can keep him at a mile.”
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
